New report sheds light on how UN SDG11 is shaping urban planning systems across the globe

A new report from the University of Liverpool and Arup has found that despite widespread awareness amongst the global planning community of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), progress toward creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities remains uneven.

The report - UN SDG 11 and the Global Planning Agenda - draws on a global literature review, survey data from Arup’s international planning network, interviews with planning professionals and institutes in 15 countries, and a panel discussion with the presidents of three planning institutes held at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Planning Conference, 2025.

Its findings reveal that while SDG 11 is increasingly shaping urban planning practice around the world, its influence varies significantly across regions, sectors, and levels of government.

The report’s authors urge the global planning community to move “from awareness to action” if the UN’s goal of sustainable and inclusive urban development is to be achieved by 2030.